Lap ring or link



PATENTED FEB. 9, 1904.

T. COTTEN.

LAP RING OR LINK.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 31, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

WMM/@osea UNITED STATES Patented February 9, 1904.

THOMAS OOTTEN, OF RULEVILLE, MISSISSIPPI.

LAP RING QR LINK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. l751,614, dated February 9, 1904.

Application filed January 3l, 1903.

T @ZZ whom. it 11u03/ concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS COTTEN, a citi- Zen of the United States, residing at Ruleville, in the county of Sunflower and State of Mississippi, have invented a new and useful Lap Ring or Link, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention is primarily intended for use in connecting whiflietrees to plowstocks, but is capable of employment for various other purposes, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

It is the object to provide by means of this invention a link or ring which may be readily opened, is securely locked when in closed position, and is so constructed that l the parts through which the draft strains are trans-. mitted are not weakened by openings for the passage of rivets or pivotal connections, as is now ordinarily the case.

The preferred form of construction is shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein# Figure 1 is a perspective view of a link constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view through the same, and Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the same in partially-opened position and indicating the position of the parts when fully opened.

Similar reference-numerals indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

The link herewith illustrated is composed of two sections 10 and 11. These sections eachconsist of a shank 12, having hooks 13 at its ends that project in the same direction from the shank and are arranged to overlap the hooks of the other section. Projecting from the shank midway between the hooks and in the same direction is a tongue 14, which also overlaps the tongue of the other section. The sections are thus arranged to lie flat upon each other, as shown in Fig. 1, and one of the tongues is provided with a longitudinallydisposed slot 15, while the other has an opening 16 therethrough that alines with the slot. Through this opening extends a pivot-bolt 17, which also projects through the slot, thus permitting the sections to both swing and slide upon each other. The pivot-bolt is long enough Serial No. 141,391. (No model.)

to permit the movement of the sections away from each other, but they are normally held together by means of a coiled spring 18 surrounding the projecting end of the bolt and having its ends bearing against washers 19, one of which rests upon the adjacent tongue 14. For the purpose of securing the sections together when in operative relation interlocking ribs 2O are arranged upon the tongues 14. One of these ribs is arranged across the inner end of one tongue, and the other rib is located across the free or outer end of the other tongue, a slight depression or groove 21 being located along one side of each rib to receive the other, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. Then the sections are arranged in their innermost position and flat against each other, as shown in Fig. l, it will be evident that they will be locked against accidental relative movement by the ribs or the abutting shoulders thereof. To open the ring or link, it is only necessary to grasp the shank of each section and separate said sections until the tongues are disengaged, then slide them outwardly to the position shown in Fig. 3, and afterward rotate them until the relation indicated in dotted lines in said Fig. 3 is obtained. In this position a link or other device maybe passed between the open ends of the sections that are then swung to a reverse position, so as to open the opposite side of the link and permit of its attachment to a plow or otherl device, after which the members may be again moved to their closed position and will be automatically relocked. It is desired to call especial attention to the fact that in this device the draft strains will be transmitted through theshanks 12 and that these Shanks are not weakened by openings for the pivotal connection, this pivotal connection being made between the tongues, upon which no strains are brought to bear. At the same time the link can be readily opened when desired, though it is securely locked in closed position, and therefore is not liable to become detached from a olevis or whiifletree when hanging loosely.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction, operation, and many advantages of the herein-described invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without further description, and it will be understood that various changes in the size, shape, pro-A portion, and minor detalls of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-' l. A lap ring or link comprising sections, each of the sections having hooks at its ends that project in the same direction and overlap the hooks of the other section, said sections being also provided with inwardly-extending overlapping tongues, and a pivot connecting the tongues and permitting the swinging movements of the sections, the hooks of one section sliding upon those of the other.

2. A lap ring or link comprising sections, each of the sections having hooks at its ends that project in the same direction and overlap the hooks of the other section, said sections being movable bodily toward and from each other and having inwardly-extending overlapping tongues that are slidable with relation to each other upon the bodily movements of the sections, and a pivot connecting the tongues and permitting the swinging movements of the sections and the sliding movements of the tongues.

3. A lap ring or link, comprising sections arranged to coincide and rest upon each other, said sections being movable laterally to permit the separation of their adjacent faces and remaining in substantially parallel relation during such movement, and interlocking devices carried by the sections and movable out of interlocking engagement when said adjacent faces of the sections are separated.

4. A lap ring or link, comprising swinging sections arranged to coincide and rest upon each other, said sections being movable laterally to permit the separation of their adjacent faces and remaining in substantially parallel relation during such movement, and interlocking shoulders located upon the adjacent faces of the sections and movable out of interlocking engagement when said faces are separated.

swinging sections, a pivot connecting the sections and permitting them to move laterally to separate their adjacent faces, a spring bearing against one of the sections to hold them together, and shoulders located on the sections and being arranged to detachably interlock to hold the sections against their swinging movements.

7. A lap ring or link comprising sections,

, each having hooks at its ends that project in the same direction and overlap the hooks of the other section, said sections being also provided with inwardly-extending overlapping tongues, one of which is provided with a slot, a pivot connecting the tongues and passing through the slot, a coiled spring surrounding the pivot and bearing upon the adjacent tongue, a rib located upon and across the inner end of one tongue, and another rib car- -ried by the free end of the other tongue, and detachably interlocking with the first-mentioned rib.

8. A lap ring or link, comprising sections,

a pivoted connection between the sections, said sections being bodily slidable in a transverse direction with respect to each other, and locking means connecting the sections to prevent their swinging and transverse sliding movement.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

- THOMAS COTTEN.

Witnesses:

JEssE HARPER, WILLIE TURNER. 

